![]() ![]() The remote could definitely use an Input button to allow for quick switching, but as it is, I needed to navigate to Menu> Connected Devices and select PC to switch back. Unfortunately, getting back to your laptop screen requires a few more clicks. The internal speaker, while not high fidelity or powerful gets the job done. The video viewing quality is fantastic just like a smaller 4K TV, and with all the streaming channels including Samsung’s live TV options, you’ll be saying, “Cable who?” If you want to use your monitor as a TV it’s as simple as hitting the Home button on the remote, or choosing one of the quick-start buttons for Netflix or Prime. I love the widescreen size and the edge-to-edge design. The colours seem natural and bright and everything looks great. The 4K resolution is crisp and clear and makes video editing and blogging easy on the eyes. So I switched to the hard-wired connection. This makes it absolutely maddening to move between the laptop screen and the Samsung smart monitor. The mouse speed and accuracy is way off it seems slower and takes longer to react, and is less precise than using it on the MacBook. I can say this works fine, but using my MacBook’s trackpad or mouse on the Samsung smart monitor was out of sync. (On a Mac, to use screen mirroring, choose screen mirroring, from your settings on your MacBook then select Smart Monitor.) You can also choose Screen Mirroring if you want to avoid cables altogether or use a remote login. Then your cursor will move smoothly between the screens. Using your MacBook’s System Preferences >Displays> and you can arrange the windows as you like. Then, you can use your MacBook’s settings to either make the monitor an additional display, or a mirror of your existing laptop monitor. With that selected, you should see your laptop screen appear. ![]() Though it shows PC as the option, this will be whatever computer you have connected, even if it’s a MacBook. Choose connected devices, then (again, oddly) choose PC. Then you will go to the Samsung Smart Display’s menu option. To properly set up the Samsung M8 smart display as your Apple MacBook extended monitor, you need to use that included USB C to USB C cable. How to set up Macbook with Samsung M8 monitor Fortunately, Samsung included a USB-C to USB-C cable which plugs into my hub adapter and worked for my set up. This monitor, in yet another oddity, does not have an HDMI port, just Micro HDMI, which meant I needed another solution to connect my laptop. I presume Samsung did this to hide visual clutter, and in truth you’re probably not going in here constantly after your initial connections, so maybe it’s a not issue. In another oddity for me, the monitor’s ports and connections are all located underneath the sliding mount, making them extremely difficult to access easily. The monitor has almost no bezel or edge and the screen is huge with lots of space. In a bit of a design oversight, it does not have a VESA adapter so you can’t put it on a monitor arm to get it off your desk space, which is a bit of a shame. It sits on a flat thin foot and is adjustable up or down within about 1.5 to 6 inches off its foot. The monitor comes in some cool colours which is definitely satisfying my design sensibilities. There’s also a small remote control mainly for using it as a TV, but it does come in handy for adjusting the monitor settings too. This 16:9 display with a 60 hz refresh rate comes with a detachable webcam, and it has smart streaming built in so you can use it as a TV too, with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV all available via Wi-Fi without having to connect to a PC or TV. ![]()
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